History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 170

Author: Brown, Robert C., ed; Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Meagher, John, jt. comp; Meginness, John Franklin, 1827-1899, jt. comp
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago : R. C. Brown
Number of Pages: 1658

USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania > Part 170

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

JOHN MCDOWELL, Son of Patrick and Susan McDowell, was born in Cen- tretown, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, April 1, 1847, received a common school education, and served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, which business he followed about fifteen years. He then engaged in farming in Marion town- ship. Butler county, where he has resided since 1874. During this period he was also an oil producer in the Armstrong, Clarion and Bradford oil fields. He mar- ried, on September 9, 1873, Lena, a daughter of Ernest Slicker, of Clarion county, and has five children, viz. : Susan ; Henry; Charley; Minnie, and Ernest. Mr. McDowell is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, also of the Epworth League. Ile is a Democrat in politics, a member of the school board, and an enterprising and respected citizen of his township.

ROBERT L. BARNES, son of John and Sarah ( MeCune ) Barnes, was born in Mercer township, Butler county, November 13, 1845, was reared on the home- stead farm, and received a common school education. He lived in Mercer town- ship until 1884, then removed to Allegheny township, and in 1892 located on his present home in Marion township. For twenty years Mr. Barnes has been engaged in the oil industry. as a producer, driller and contractor, first at Pithole, Venango county, then at Petersburg. Clarion county, and Byrom Centre, and is now operating in the Washington township field. During this period he has also been engaged more or less in farming. Mr. Barnes was married May 9, 1867. to Lucy E. McCoy, a daughter of Thomas McCoy, of Pine township, Mer- cer county, who bore him three children : Thomas E .: Minnie M., and Sarah II. His second marriage occurred January 1, 1879, to Etta Richmond, a daugh- ter of Isaac Richmond, of Pine township, to whom has been born one son, Charles R. Mr. Barnes is a member of the United Presbyterian church, and in politics, he is a Democrat.

THOMAS JOLLY, SR., came from Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, to Venango township, Butler county, in 1796, purchased a tract of land, erected a

1317

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

log cabin, and brought his family to his new home in the spring of 1797. His purchase was the farm now owned by his grandson, Thomas Jolly. He cleared a part of this tract, set out an orchard soon after his coming, and resided here until his death, May 25, 1841, aged eighty-five years. He married Betsey Mitchell, who bore him the following children : David ; John ; James; Thomas ; Jane, who married Patrick Layton, and Mrs. Betsey McDowell. Mrs. Jolly died on May 10, 1840, at the age of eighty-six.

CAPT. THOMAS JOLLY, son of Thomas and Betsey Jolly, was born in West- moreland county, February 19, 1793, and came with his parents to Butler county in 1797. He was reared upon the homestead farm in Venango township, and resided upon the same until his death, which occurred December 1, 1885, at the ripe age of ninety-three years. Captain Jolly was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was afterwards a captain of a militia company for twenty-one years. Dur- ing early manhood he devoted considerable attention to hunting, and he esti- mated that his father, himself and brothers, killed over 100 bears in the vicinity of'his home during pioneer days. He married Rebecca Jolly, a daughter of Samuel Jolly, of Venango county, on December 27, 1824. Four children were the fruits of this union, as follows : Samuel; Sarah, who married Samnel McGinnis ; Jane, who married Eli Williams, and Thomas. Captain Jolly and wife were members of the Presbyterian church, and throughout his life he was an ardent supporter of the Democratic party.

THOMAS JOLLY, JR., son of Capt. Thomas and Rebecca Jolly, was born on the Jolly homestead in Venango township, Butler county, October 30, 1-39. His entire life has been spent upon this farm, and he obtained in the common schools a good English education. On October 27, 1859, he married Marilda A. Rus-ell, a daughter of David and Sarah ( Searles) Russell, of Venango county, to which union have been born seven children, viz. : S. Calvin, who married Mina Rup- pert ; Simeon, deceased: D). Theodore; Sarah E .: John E., deceased ; Charles (., and Oliver P. Mr. Jolly and wife are members of the Seceder church, and like his father. he has always been a Democrat. He is one of the enterprising and progressive farmers of the county, a man of broad views and liberal opinions.

JOHN VANDERLIN was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1760, and was a son of Nicholas Vanderlin, a native of Holland, who served under Wash- ington in the French and Indian War, and was present with General Forbes in 1758, in the second expedition against Fort Duquense, Washington leading the Virginia forces. John Vanderlin was a soldier in the Revolution, and was serving under Washington during the dark days of Valley Forge. He came with his father to what is now Venango township, Butler county, in 1799, where they settled and purchased together 540 acres of land, which he improved into a fine farm, now valuable for its oil production. Here his father died in 1817, at a rige old age. He was interred upon the old Vanderlin farm, which is now the property of Robert Vanderlin. John Vanderlin married Elizabeth Kimes, in Chester county, and their children are as follows: Stephen; Elizabeth, who married Philip Stoops; Mary, who married James Mortland; Margaret, who married Thomas Hutchison ; Rebecca, who married William Seaton ; Nancy, who became the wife of John McCauslin ; Hannah, who married John Hutchison ;

1318

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

Harriet, who died unmarried, and one that died in infancy. Mr. Vanderlin was a Democrat in politics, and was a commissioner of Butler county in 1833. He was noted for his strong determination, courage and wit, and died in 1856, aged ninety-six years.

STEPHEN VANDERLIN, only son of John Vanderlin, was born in Penn's valley, Centre county, Pennsylvania, in 1796. and came with his parents to But- ler county in 1799. Here he grew to manhood in the backwoods, and spent his entire life in agricultural pursuits. He married Eliza, daughter of Robert Seaton, and they were the parents of ten children : John; Robert: James ; William, deceased : Samuel; Eli: Joseph C .: Eliza J., wife of James Kerr ; George S., and Margaret M., wife of William Kerr. Politically, Mr. Vander- lin was a life-long Democrat, a good citizen and an honest man. He died in 1886, in his ninetieth year. His wife died in 1883.

JOHN WILLsoy was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, a son of William and Jane Wilson, the former a native of Scotland, and his wife of Ireland. They were among the pioneers of Adams county, and lived and died there, being life- long members of Brush Creek Presbyterian church, near Gettysburg. John Wil- son was reared to manhood in that county, afterwards located in Washington county, where he married Nancy Conn, and then removed to Venango town- ship, Butler county, where his three eldest children were born. He returned to Washington county, remained there for several years, and in 1818 again settled in Butler county, first in Venango township, and afterwards in Washington township. Later in life he took up his residence in Venango township again, and spent his remaining year- in that subdivision. He was the father of nine children, as follows : William ; Robert : Margaret, wife of Samuel Hilliard ; Jane, who married Robert Cochran ; Joseph ; Mary, who married Joshua Griffin; Miriam, who married Thomas Kelly ; Richard, and John, all of whom are dead but Richard, a resident of Clintonville. Venango county. Mr. Wilson was a member of the Presbyterian church.

JOSEPH WILSON, third son of John and Nancy Wilson, was a native of Washington county, and came with his parents to Butler county in 1818. In 1837 he settled on a farm in Venango township, now occupied by his sons Rob- ert C. and Adam C., the larger portion of which he cleared and improved, resid- ing there until his death. He married Eliza Curry, a daughter of Adam Curry. one of the pioneers of Venango township. Of this marriage seven children grew to maturity, as follows : Mary J., who married Robert L. Black ; Robert C. ; Margaret A. ; Nancy C., wife of James S. Martin ; Adam C. ; John G., and Eliza C. Though not a member of any church, Mr. Wilson was a liberal sup- porter of religion. He died in 1568.

ADAM C. Wilson, second son of Joseph and Eliza Wilson, was born on the old homestead in Venango township, Butler county, May 5, 1842. He received a common school education, such as the schools of his period afforded. Ile was reared a farmer, and has always resided upon a portion of the old home- stead. Mr. Wilson was married June 10, 1875, to Sarah, a daughter of Gilbert and Jane ( Dickson) Christy, of Cherry township, and has five children, viz. : Mary; Margaret J. ; Gilbert C. ; Joseph McN., and Rhoda. Mr. Wilson is a

1319

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

member of the Associate Presbyterian church ; in politics, he is a Democrat, and has held the office of justice of the peace for fourteen years.

ROBERT C. WILSON, eldest son of Joseph and Eliza ( Curry) Wilson, was born in Washington township, Butler county, Pennsylvania, December 26, 1836. He was reared in Venango township, and received a limited education in the common schools. With the exception of two years spent in the mercantile busi- ness at Farmington, he has followed agricultural pursuits, and now owns and occupies a part of the Curry and Wilson farms, on which he has made all the improvements. Mr. Wilson was married December 27, 1860, to Eliza Blair, a daughter of William and Eliza ( Eakin) Blair, of Venango township, and has a family of seven living children, viz. : Eliza J .; James A. ; Elma ; Louisa ; Miriam ; Harry, and Blanche. Mr. Wilson and wife, and their three eldest daughters, are members of the Associate Presbyterian church. In politics, he is a stanch Democrat.

LEWIS CHAMBERS, a native of New Jersey, and a son of Daniel Chambers, a native of Scotland, came to Butler county about 1818, and settled in what is now Venango township, on the farm now occupied by his son James L. He cleared and improved this property, and resided upon it until his death, May 22. 1871. He married Elizabeth Hilliard, a daughter of Guy Hilliard, a native of Ireland and one of the pioneers of Venango township. ller mother, Margaret Hilliard, lived to the remarkable age of 102 years. Seven children were born to Lewis and Elizabeth Chambers, as follows : Lydia, who married William Tebay; Thomas ; Daniel ; John ; James L: Margaret, wife of D. C. McCandless, and Elizabeth, wife of David Conn. Mr. Chambers was a member of the Methodist church nearly all his life, and a class leader for many years. In politics, he was a Republican.

JAMES L. CHAMBERS, fourth son of Lewis and Elizabeth Chambers, was born in Venango township, Butler county February 23, 1835, and was reared, upon his present homestead, which has always been his residence. He received a common school education and has devoted his attention to farming. In 1870 he married Caroline Marshall, a daughter of Joseph Marshall. of Marion town- ship, and has five children, viz. : Mandam McC. ; Burgess : Lewis ; Mary C .. and Anna M. Politically, Mr. Chambers is a Republican, and in religious faith, is a supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church.

SAMUEL FLEMING, a native of Ireland, was among the early settlers of Venango township, Butler county. where he purchased seventy-three acres of land, which he continued to clear and improve as long as he lived. He was twice married, his first wife being Mary Lindsay, to whom were born several children, only one now living, James, a resident of Missouri. His second wife was Matilda Becket, a native of Ireland, who bore him four children, viz. : William ; Mary J., who married Hosea Oliphant ; Samuel C., and Thomas J. Mr. Fleming was a member of the Presbyterian church, was a Republican, in politics, and lived to the ripe age of eighty-six years.

SAMUEL C. FLEMING, son of Samuel and Matilda Fleming, was born in Venango township, Butler county, November 3. 1860, was reared on the old homestead, and with the exception of three years when engaged in teaming in

1320

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

the Butler oil field, he has resided upon the same place up to the present. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is an ardent supporter of the Republi- can party.

JOHN EAKIN, a native of Derry county, Ireland. born in 1776, was a son of John and Margaret (Posten) Eakin. In 1837 he immigrated to Pennsylvania, and after a voyage of ten weeks and four days in the ship " Harmony," landed with his family at Philadelphia, August 6, of that year. He came westward to Venango county. and settled in Irwin township, where he engaged in teaching school and farming, and resided there until his death. He married in Ireland, Margaret McClelland, a daughter of John McClelland, a dry goods merchant of Londonderry. She bore him a family of five children who grew to maturity, viz. : Elizabeth. who married William Blair; John; David; Margaret, who married Robert Bovard, and Thomas. Mr. Eakin was a life-long member of the Presbyterian church, and died May 10, 1846. in his seventieth year.

THOMAS EAKIN. youngest son of John and Margaret Eakin, was born in Donegal county. Ireland. November 10, 1818. He was reared and educated in Derry county, and came to Venango county. Pennsylvania, with his parents in 1837. He lived in Irwin township, Venango county, until 1863, and then removed to Venango township, Butler county, where he has since resided, engaged in farming. Mr. Eakin was married March 27, 1845, to Eliza, a daugh- ter of Robert and Nancy (Eakin) Blair, of Venango township, and has eight living children, viz. : Nancy J .. wife of C. P. Reynolds ; John MCC; Robert S. : Thomas ; Lavina, wife of William McMillan : Emma, wife of Oliver Kohl- meyer ; Mary, and Mina E., wife of Joseph Meals. Mr. Eakin is one of the sub- stantial farmers of the township. is a member of the Associate Presbyterian church, and in politics, he is a Democrat.

WILLIAM BLAIR was born in Donegal county, Ireland. October 31, 1>10, and was a son of John and Margaret ( Hawthorn) Blair. He immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1837, and settled in Venango township, Butler county, on the farm now owned and occupied by his son John. He cleared and improved this property and resided theron down to his death. He married Elizabeth Eakin, a daughter of John Eakin. a native of Ireland, who settled in Irwin township, Venango county. Seven children were the fruits of this union, five of whom grew to maturity, as follows: Margaret E .. wife of Robert Wilson; John ; Rachel, wife of A. M. Reynolds : Rebecca J., wife of Oliver Lewis, and Louisa, wife of John Stalker. Mr. Blair died May 5, 171. He was a member of the Associate Presbyterian church, and in politics. an ardent Democrat.

JOHN BLAIR, only son of William and Elizabeth Blair, was born upon the homestead in Venango township, Butler county, May 29, 1843. He was reared upon his present farm, and, with the exception of three years spent in mercantile business at Farmington, has passed his entire life in agricultural pursuits. He married Nannie, a daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Wilson, of Venango town- ship, who has borne him the following children : Gertrude ; William ; Frank P. ; Edward ; John M. : Thomas A. ; Ralph S. : Mamie; Louisa, and Bertha. Mr. Blair is a member of the Associate Presbyterian church, in which he is a ruling

1321

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

elder. In politics, he is a Democrat, has held various township offices, and is one of the progressive and representative farmers of his township.

LEVI WILLIAMS, a son of Benjamin and Tamar K. (Wood) Williams, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, October 19, 1781, and came to Sandy Creek township, Venango county, with his parents about 1803. His father was a native of Wales, and married Tamar K. Wood, a native of England. They settled first in Lancaster county, whence they removed to Northumberland county. remaining until 1803, when they removed to Venango county and settled in Sandy Creek township. Benjamin Williams was a tailor, and followed his trade among the pioneers. He was the father of the following children : John : Je -- sie ; Levi; Sarah, who married William Crawford : Mrs. Polly Stofelt ; Benja- min, and Eli. In 1812 Levi removed from Clinton township to the extreme southwest part of Scrubgrass township, Venango county. Ile owned 109 acres of land, which is still in possession of his sons, and in 1836 erected the stone house now occupied by Simeon Williams. He, too, was a tailor, but devoted his principal attention to farming. With the assistance of his sons he cleared and improved the farm upon which he resided at his death, in April, 1867. Ile was a soldier in the War of 1812 from Venango county. Mr. Williams married Polly Phipps, a daughter of John Phipps, of Scrubgrass township. Their chil- dren were as follows : John ; Tamar, who married John Scott ; Benjamin ; Levi : Jesse ; David ; Samuel; Simeon; Eli; Thomas; Catherine, who married Thomas Christy, and Mary A., who married A. J. Jack. Mr. Williams and wife were pioneer members of Scrubgrass Presbyterian church.

JOHN WILLIAMS, eldest son of Levi and Polly Williams, was born in Scrub- grass township, Venango county, February 13, 1812, and was reared on the old homestead. In 1844 he settled in Venango township, Butler county, where he cleared and improved the farm upon which he has since resided. On November 2, 1837, he married Mary Scott, a daughter of James and Elizabeth Scott. of Scrubgrass township. Ten children were born to this union, seven of whom grew to maturity, viz .: Levi J .; J. W. Milton ; Lavina. wife of W. J. Eakin ; Sarah, wife of H. B. Stalker ; Samuel C .: Margaret, wife of Austin Eakin. and Selina, wife of Samuel Beyers. Mr. Williams is in his eighty-third year, and still hale and hearty for a man of his advanced age. Politically. he has always been a Democrat.

SAMUEL C. WILLIAMS, son of John and Mary Williams, was born on the homestead farm in Venango township, Butler county, January 25, 1856, and has resided thereon up to the present. In 1880 he married Sarah Moore, a daughter of James and Clarinda ( Hovis) Moore, of Clinton township, Venango county. They are the parents of four surviving children, viz. : Mary C. ; Charles F. ; James A., and William E. Mr. William- is a member of the United Presbyte- rian church, and in politics, he is a Democrat.

JOHN MCNAMEE, son of Neal and Bridget ( McCullough) McNamee, was born in Derry county, Ireland, in 1792, was reared in his native land, and in 1836 immigrated with his family to the United States, settling the same year in Venango township, Butler county, Pennsylvania. He was employed for ten years in the furnaces of that locality, and then purchased a farm in Venango

1322

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

township, which is still owned by his heirs. He cleared and improved this property, and died thereon, July 15. 1887, at the age of ninety-five years. His wife died on March 30, 1887, aged eighty-seven years. He married Sarah McNally, a daughter of Harry McNally, of Ireland, of which union five children grew to maturity, viz. : Bridget ; Ellen ; Patrick ; Francis, and Sarah A. Mr. McNamee and wife were members of the Catholic church, in which faith they lived and died.

FRANCIS MCNAMEE, son of John and Sarah McNamee, was born in Derry county, Ireland, in August, 1833, and came to Butler county with his parents. Ile was reared in Venango township, and on attaining his majority engaged in lumbering for several years, also as a pilot on the Clarion and Allegheny rivers. In 1862 he located on the farm in Venango township where he now resides, cleared and improved it, and has since been engaged in agriculture. On March 3. 1862, he married Ellen C. Reid, a daughter of John and Mary (Coakley) Reid, of Venango township, They are the parents of eight children, as follows : John L. ; William P. : Hugh . \. ; Mary C., wife of Jacob Downey; Francis H .; James P .; Annie C., and Charles J. Mr. McNamee and family are members of the Catholic church. In politics, he is a Democrat, and has held the offices of constable, collector, assessor and school director.

HAMILTON MORROW was born in eastern Pennsylvania, in 1800, a son of Thomas Morrow, and settled in Slippery Rock township, Butler county, abont 1820. He was a furnaceman and farmer, and cleared and improved a farm of fifty-three acres in that township, upon which he resided until his death. He married Jane Davis, a daughter of Lemuel Davis, of this county. She bore him a family of seven sons and seven daughters, whose names are as follows : Nancy, who married Daniel Wolford : Margaret, who married Williamson Christy ; Washington : Elizabeth, who married George Blakeney ; Andrew J .; Jonathan ; Kate .A., who became the wife of Hartley Bell ; Prudence, who married Samuel Bell : Mary, who married William McConnell : Perry, who died while serving in the Union army during the Rebellion ; James: David ; Annie, and William. Mr. Morrow was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics, he supported the Democratic party.

ANDREW J. MORROW, son of Hamilton and Jane Morrow, was born in Slippery Rock township. Butler county, in 1834, and resided there until thirty- five years of age. Ile then removed to Venango county and engaged in mining. which occupation he still continues, having followed agriculture in connection therewith since 1871. In that year he purchased a farm in Venango township. Butler county, and has since added to his original purchase, until his farin now contains over 200 acres, a good share of which, with the assistance of his sons, he has cleared and improved. In 1958 Mr. Morrow married Mary McFadden, a daughter of John and Barbara ( Hoffman ) McFadden, of Irwin township. Venango county, and has eight children, viz. : John ; Barbara: Jacob ; Margery ; Michael ; Lewis: W. Jackson, and Albert. Mr. Morrow is a Democrat, and has held the offices of supervisor and school director in Venango township.

ANDREW ADDLEMAN, son of John and Sarah (Gnow) Addleman, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, in 1800, and was of German extraction.

1323

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

He came to Venango township, Butler county, in 1843, and settled on the farm at that time owned by Andrew and Thomas Sloan, now the property of Amos Seaton, where he died in 1871. He married Margaret Henry, a daughter of Alexander Henry, of Huntingdon county. She was born in 1808, and died in 1894. The following children were the fruits of this union : Angeline, who married James Feely ; Lucinda, who married Samuel Rosenberry; R. Miles; Sarah ; James A. ; Margaret : John W .; Benjamin P .; Lindley HI. ; Robert A. ; Eliza, and Porter. Mr. Addleman was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics, he was a Republican.

REUBEN MILES ADDLEMAN, eldest son of Andrew and Margaret Addle- man, was born in Huntingdon county, May 15, 1832, and came to Venango town- ship. Butler county, with his parents when he was about eleven years old. He received a common school education, and assisted his father in clearing and improving the farm upon which he now resides. In 1860 he married Nancy J. Atwell, a daughter of James and Martha ( Boyle) Atwell, of Marion township, and has the following children, viz. : Louisa, wife of Leander Lewis ; Margaret, wife of Frank Calvert ; Olive, wife of William Graham ; Addison P. ; Andrew ; Elmeda ; Vera, and Fannie. Mr. Addleman is a Republican, and has held various offices in Venango township.

JOHN PARKER was one of the pioneer surveyors of Butler county. He was a son of General Parker, was born in 1776, and came here before his marriage, in 1794, in the employ of a Mr. Moore, to survey the lands in what is now Parker township, adjacent to Parker City. Hle was from Westmoreland county, Penn- sylvania, and took up 600 aeres, a portion of which is now within the limits of the town. He subsequently married, brought out his wife and settled in Parker township, Butler county. John Parker was one of the early associate judges of the county, a man of wide influence in the community, progressive, public-spir- ited and energetic, and one of the most useful citizens of his day. In 1815 he surveyed a part of his land into town lots and named the place Lawrenceburg, which is now a portion of Parker City. He married Jane Woods, on December 7. 1797. She was born near Greensburg, Pennsylvania, in 1774, and became the mother of eight sons and one daughter, as follows: James; John; Juliet, who married John Gilchrist : William M. ; Fullerton W; Washington ; George P'; Thomas, and Wilson. Judge Parker died in 1842.

GEORGE PARKER, son of John and Jane Parker, was born in Parker town- ship, Butler county, September S, 1812. He grew to maturity upon the home- stead farm, his education being limited to the advantages afforded by the pioneer schools of his neighborhood. He took an active interest in military matters, and served in one of the militia companies of the county. Mr. Parker was married July 20. 1843, to Jane Pollock. a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Pollock, and niece of John Pollock, one of the early sheriff's of Butler county. She was born near Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson county, Ohio, May 3. Ists, and is at present resid- ing at Parker City. Her husband died December 10, 1887. For many years he filled the office of trustee in the Presbyterian church of that town, and gave lib- erally of his means towards religious and charitable purposes. Ile was a stanch Republican, and quite active in public affairs. Mr. Parker accumulated through

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 170

Author: Brown, Robert C., ed; Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Meagher, John, jt. comp; Meginness, John Franklin, 1827-1899, jt. comp Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Chicago : R. C. Brown Number of Pages: 1658

Author: Brown, Robert C., ed; Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Meagher, John, jt. comp; Meginness, John Franklin, 1827-1899, jt. comp
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago : R. C. Brown
Number of Pages: 1658